KUALA LUMPUR: A SYSTEM to provide better job satisfaction for taxi drivers and a more efficient service for passengers is being devised, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.
He expressed his displeasure at the practice of handing a large number of permits to companies, likening the leasing system to a “modern form of slavery”.
“I don’t like it when I hear about companies getting lots of taxi licences. We will end the era of giving licences to companies under the new system, where we will give licences to individual taxi drivers.”
He said this at the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia (TR1Ma) gathering at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.
He added that the new system would be rolled out in two years.
He asked taxi drivers to give the government some time to study the new system and promised that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) would engage taxi drivers’ associations for their feedback.
There were 42,947 taxi permits held by taxi corporations, while 32,663 more were issued to individuals, said SPAD.
Najib announced vouchers for new tyres and a personal accident insurance scheme as part of the new touch points for taxi drivers.
Cabbies will receive vouchers for two pairs of tyres worth RM520, which are redeemable at more than 300 Goodyear and Continental service centres.
The vouchers are for two years. After that, they will be reviewed when the new model is ready.
The 1Malaysia Development Board has pumped in RM35 million per year into this initiative, which will benefit close to 67,000 taxi drivers.
As for the personal accident insurance scheme, taxi drivers will receive benefits in cases of death due to accident (RM10,000), permanent disability due to accident (RM10,000), medical treatment costs due to accident (RM500), funeral expenses for death due to accident (RM1,500) and funeral expenses for normal death (RM1,000).
The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry has prepared a fund of more than RM1 million for the scheme.
Other initiatives announced in the past included rebates of RM3,000 for taxis aged between 7 and 10 years and RM1,000 for taxis aged over 10 years.
The government, through Bank Simpanan Nasional’s loan scheme, also provides a two per cent interest rate for new local taxi ownership.
Najib urged taxi drivers to have passenger-friendly values, which would create a good image of the country and its people to foreign tourists.
“Based on a study of our dealings with tourists, we discovered that their perception of the country is affected by the first few people they meet upon reaching here.
“Immigration officers are the first people they meet, followed by taxi drivers. If they are greeted by a friendly driver, they are likelier to think that Malaysians are that way.”
Later, Najib presented awards to 40 taxi drivers who displayed good values to encourage taxi drivers to increase the quality of their service.
Zaharuddin Ramali was recognised by Najib for returning the wallet of a foreign tourist who had left it in his taxi.
Najib said the tourist had high praise for Zaharuddin, who had refused to accept a reward for his deed.
The day-long event was organised by SPAD, the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry, the Information Department and 1MDB.
Present were Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.
In a recent report by the New Straits Times, Malaysia Taxi Owners and Drivers Association secretary Hiew Pow Man said there were around 50,000 taxis and 75,000 drivers in the Klang Valley, including the ones at the Sepang Low-Cost Carrier Terminal.
Now, taxi drivers can either lease taxis from companies, drive their own taxis or rent from individual owners.
“There are more than 30 companies leasing taxis in the Klang Valley. The cost of renting taxis from companies is RM40 to RM80, depending on the car used. A Proton Exora can go up to RM80.
For taxi drivers who participate in the coupon system, 10 to 15 per cent of their earnings will be given as commission to the company.
Taxi drivers’ earnings are not fixed and, some say, depend on their luck.
If they go to the airport or if tourists book them for city tours, they can earn up to RM200 a day. There are times when they go back home with only RM20.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being greeted by taxi drivers at the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia gathering at National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Pic by Abdullah Yusof
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